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The differences between installation and service technicians and field service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an installation and service technician, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $37,202 average annual salary of an installation and service technician.
The top three skills for an installation and service technician include hand tools, customer service and ladders. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.
| Installation And Service Technician | Field Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,202 | $54,339 |
| Hourly rate | $17.89 | $26.12 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 125,640 | 167,298 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An installation and service technician is an individual who oversees the continuous operation of personal equipment through operating functions. Installation and service technicians maintain the supplies, perform preventive maintenance, and call for repairs in structures. They install, test, maintain and troubleshoot cables, switches, and any other telecommunications equipment. The skills necessary to perform this job include mechanical and electrical knowledge, customer service, working for long hours in confined spaces, and communication skills.
Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.
Installation and service technicians and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Installation And Service Technician | Field Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,202 | $54,339 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $35,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Quincy, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Johnson Controls | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between an installation and service technician and a field service technician in terms of educational background:
| Installation And Service Technician | Field Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between installation and service technicians' and field service technicians' demographics:
| Installation And Service Technician | Field Service Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.8% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 1% |